Source-checked guide · August 2026
Audiobookshelf clients compared from primary sources
There is no single best Audiobookshelf client. Use the official web client for server administration. For Apple-device playback, compare SoundLeaf, Still, and AudioBooth by the devices and offline controls their owners document. Choose PoRaBar when a native Mac menu-bar player for radio, podcasts, YouTube livestreams, and Audiobookshelf matters more than source-backed offline or dedicated-device features.
Compared client by client
Six first-party and Apple-platform playback choices, compared only on facts documented by Audiobookshelf, product owners, App Store listings, or maintainer repositories.
| Client | Relationship | Platforms | Pricing model | What the sources establish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audiobookshelf web client | First-party | Web, PWA | Unknown | The official server repository documents browser streaming and per-user progress sync; Audiobookshelf directs server administration to the web client. Source 1Source 2 |
| Audiobookshelf mobile app | First-party; early-beta iOS app | iOS via TestFlight, Android beta | Unknown | Official documentation establishes offline listening and no server administration. The app repository said the iOS TestFlight was full on the verification date. Source 1Source 2Source 3 |
| SoundLeaf | Third-party community client | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, CarPlay, macOS unresolved | Free base app; SoundLeaf Pro one-time USD 9.99; optional yearly Supporter tier | Product and App Store sources document streaming, sync, a sleep timer, and Pro offline downloads; version 2.1 was dated 2026-08-13. Its community entry labels macOS while the App Store says not verified for macOS, so macOS remains unresolved. Source 1Source 2Source 3Source 4 |
| Still: for Audiobookshelf | Third-party community client | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, CarPlay, macOS unresolved | Free with in-app purchases; exact prices Unknown | The App Store documents streaming, downloads, progress sync, a sleep timer, multiple servers, and version 1.4 dated 2026-07-30. macOS remains unresolved because the community and App Store statements conflict. Source 1Source 2Source 3 |
| AudioBooth | Third-party community client | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, CarPlay | Free with in-app purchases; exact prices Unknown | The App Store documents direct Audiobookshelf integration, downloads, progress sync, a sleep timer, and version 1.11 dated 2026-07-21; the maintainer repository documents current development. Source 1Source 2Source 3 |
| PoRaBar | Third-party; not listed in Audiobookshelf's community directory | macOS 13+, iOS 16+ | 60-day free trial; one-time USD 2.99 purchase | PoRaBar's product sources document Mac menu-bar playback for Audiobookshelf, radio, podcasts, and YouTube livestreams. Audiobookshelf books stream and are not available as offline downloads. Source 1Source 2Source 3Source 4 |
How this comparison is sourced
The research pass is dated 17 August 2026 and uses product-owned sites, App Store listings, official documentation, and maintainer repositories. Audiobookshelf’s community listing is a discovery aid, not an endorsement. Audiobookshelf says third-party projects are not maintained, tested, security-reviewed, or supported by Audiobookshelf; each maintainer is responsible for its own entry.
“Unknown” means the reviewed primary sources did not establish the fact. It does not mean a feature or price is absent. SoundLeaf and Still are examples: the community directory labels them for macOS, while their current App Store compatibility statements say “Not verified for macOS,” so this comparison leaves macOS unresolved for both.
Which one should you choose?
- Choose the Audiobookshelf web client when you want the supported server-administration interface or browser playback without another client.
- Consider the official mobile app when first-party offline listening matters and you can access the relevant beta. At the verification date, its repository said the iOS TestFlight was full.
- Compare SoundLeaf when its documented Apple Watch, CarPlay, sync, sleep-timer, and optional offline features fit your devices. Treat Mac availability as unresolved.
- Compare Still when its documented downloads, progress sync, sleep timer, and multiple-server handling fit your setup. Its exact in-app prices and Mac availability remain unresolved here.
- Compare AudioBooth when you want a client whose current App Store listing covers Mac and several other Apple platforms, along with downloads and a sleep timer.
- Consider PoRaBar when you want Audiobookshelf inside a native Mac menu-bar player that also handles radio, podcasts, and YouTube livestreams. Read how PoRaBar handles Audiobookshelf on Mac before choosing it.
Where PoRaBar is not the best fit
PoRaBar is not the best fit when you need offline Audiobookshelf listening: its audiobooks stream from your server. It is also not the source-backed choice for Audiobookshelf-specific sleep controls, Apple Watch, CarPlay, iPad, or server administration. SoundLeaf, Still, and AudioBooth document several of those dedicated-client capabilities, while the official web client is Audiobookshelf’s server-administration choice.
If the web client already meets your needs, use it in a browser. If PoRaBar’s menu-bar trade still fits, follow the Audiobookshelf connection guide and verify it against your own server during the trial.
Try PoRaBar only if its trade fits
PoRaBar has a 60-day free trial, followed by one USD 2.99 purchase. Test it with your own server before deciding.